Aug 9 Putin expelling 755 American diplomats "a distraction"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is expelling 755 of the U.S. diplomatic core in Russia.

No comment on how Putin arrived at 755. Or why he failed to send all of them packing. Or why he is allowing some of them to stay.

According to Steve Pieczenik, all the people Putin dismissed were Russian civilian citizens. None had security clearances. All were considered non-essential and non-classified by the U.S.

Pieczenik was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State to Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance, and James Baker. Pieczenik served in this capacity to Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H. Bush.

Pieczenik called Putin's stunt "a distraction" and no big deal. Pieczenik said that Henry Kissinger ran the State Department with only ten persons under President Richard Nixon.